Arts and Entertainment Reporter

Lone Survivor: An amazing cast was recruited for this Afghanistan war film: Mark Wahlberg, Eric Bana, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch and Ben Foster. It’s a brutally violent account of a disastrous mission to take out a Taliban leader in 2005. The film’s title should tell you enough about what happens to most of the cast. It’s hard to tell if this is going to be an accurate war film or glamorized hero worship, turning the war on terrorism into a video game. Whichever it is, crowds are rushing in droves to see it: “Lone Survivor” is busting January opening weekend records. Now it’s in Athens. Based on the New York Times best-selling memoir, “Lone Survivor” is an action packed ride. 2hr 1; R.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Jack Ryan gets the Jason Bourne treatment in this reboot of the Tom Clancy franchise. Chris Pine takes over the role made famous by Alec Baldwin and Harrison Ford, and is backed up by a strong cast in Kevin Costner, Keira Knightley and Kenneth Branagh. “Shadow Recruit” is not just a reboot of the Jack Ryan series (which is very much stalled), but serves as an origin story for our favorite CIA analyst-cum-superhero character. Yes, Ryan is a superhero since he’s saving the world again. Or for the first time, depending on how familiar you are with the Ryan character timeline. Fight scenes will take a front row seat with “Shadow Recruit” and early clips show Ryan beating up, and getting beat up by, baddies in tightly framed, expertly choreographed battles. 1 hr 46; PG-13.